Electric-lamp holder for bicycles



(No Model.) 5

E. D. ROCKWELL. ELEGTRIG LAMP HOLD ER' FOR BIQYGLEQ Patented Feb. 11,1896.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDIVARD DAYTON ROCKWELL, OF BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC-LAMP HOLDER FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,459, dated February11, 1896.

Application filed May 10, 1895.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD DAYTON Roon- WELL, of Bristol, in the countyof Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement inElectric-Lamp Holders for Bicycles; and I do hereby declare thefollowing, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings andthe letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of thisspecification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a view in front elevation of one form which an electric lampholder constructed in accordance with my invention may assume; Fig. 2, aview thereof partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section;Fig. 3, a reverse plan view of the foot of the reflector; Fig. 4, adetached sectional view of the clip; Fig. 5, a detached plan view of thecoupling-ring; Fig. 6, a View thereof in side elevation; Fig. 7, abroken View, in side elevation, of one of the modified forms which thedevice may assume; Fig. 8, a detached partial plan view of the clip ofsuch device; Fig. 9, a detached partial view of another form of clip;Fig. 10, a detached plan view of such a coupling-ring as would be usedin connection with the clip shown in Fig. 9.

My invention relates to an improved electric-lamp holder for bicycles,the object being to provide a simple, compact and convenient device formounting electric lamps upon bicycles, and constructed with particularreference to convenience of operation and to rendering the lighteffective.

WVith these ends in View my invention consists in an electric-lampholder having certain details of construction and combinations of parts,as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

As herein shown, the incandescent electric lamp A is located within aparabolic reflector B, having a hollow stem B, terminating in a circularfoot B the lower portion of the lamp and the electric connections for itbeing located within the said stem and foot. The particular constructionof the lamp and the provision for leading electric wires to it will notbe detailed, as they may be of any suitable character.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, of the Serial No. 548,856. (Nomodel.)

drawings, the foot B aforesaid is mounted in a horizontally-arrangedcoupling-ring C, provided at opposite points in its periphery withset-screws C C, which impinge against the collar for securing the samewithin the ring, the forward edge of which is provided with a couplinghead or member C constructed with a transverse horizontal groove 0, alongitudinal vertically-arranged slot 0, the outer end of which opensforward, while its inner end intersects the said groove midway thelength thereof, a cam-face 0 formed at the outer end of the upper faceof the head, and a depending annular boss 0 smaller in diameter than thehead and intersected by the slot 0. The said head, it will be observed,offsets from the forward edge of the ring and is lo cated in the planethereof. The rear edge of the ring is provided at a point diametricallyopposite the said coupling-head with a fingerpiece 0 The saidcoupling-head co-operates with a coupling-bar D, furnished at its endswith knobs D D and connected midway of its length with the upper end ofa spring E, located within a vertically-arranged hollow tube or post F,rigidly connected with the upper member, F, of a clip, composed also ofa corresponding lower member, F and two screws F F which pass throughverticallyperforated ears formed at the ends of the members F F whichthe said screws clamp upon the handle-bar of the machine or upon anysuitable portion of the frame thereof.

The lower end of the spring E is bent to form an eye E, which isconnected with and swivels upon a button f, secured to the clip member Fat a point within the lower end of the tube or hollow post F. Under theconstruction described the cross-bar D has loose bearing upon the upperend of the post or tube F, upon which it is free to turn, its turningbeing permitted by the rotation of the spring E. The coupling-ring C isconnected with the coupling-bar D by crowding the coupling-head C underthe same, causing the bar to ride up over the cam-face c of the head andinto the groove 0, in which it finds a seat. The slot 0 receives theupper end of the spring E, while the depending boss 0 fits into theupper end of the tube F, to the internal diameter of which its externaldiameter corresponds. In thus assembling the parts the spring E isplaced under sufficient tension to exert a strong downward draft uponthe bar I), which pulls downward on the coupling-head C and maintainsthe same in place upon the upper end of the tube, on which it is free tobe rotated in one direction or the other at the convenience of therider, who is enabled to throw the light in any direction within theplane in which the lamp may thus be rotated. In addition to thismovement of the lamp the light may be also thrown up and down bypressing downward or upward upon the finger-piece C for such is thecharacter of the connection between the coupling-head and coupling-barthat the head may be tilted, so to speak, up and down upon the postwithout being disengaged from the bar, which automatically brings thering back to its horizontal position When the fingers cease to lift ordepress the ring.

It will be readily understood from the foregoing that I secure avirtuallyuniversal joint between the lamp and the handle-bar, and thatthe rider may throw the light in any direction, sidewise or up and down.

To disconnect the lamp the set-screws O C of the coupling-ring may bemanipulated to relieve their impingement upon the circular foot 13formed at the lower end of the stem B of the reflector, or thecoupling-ring may itself be disconnected from the coupling-bar bydrawing its coupling-head away from the same.

In the modified construction shown by Fig. 7 of the drawings thecoupling-ring Gis constructed with a rearwardly-projectingvertically-perforated lug or coupling member G, carrying a set-screw Gand receiving a stem or shaft II, on which the ring is verticallyadjustable, and to which it is secured in any position of adjustment bymeans of the set screw G The said shaft is attached at its lower end toa ball I, forming the ball member of a universal joint and frictionallyclasped between the cup-shaped upper ends of two corresponding plates JJ, drawn together by means of a screw J and secured at their lower endsto a stud J projecting upward from the upper member J 3 of a clip, theother member of which is not shown. The ball I is provided with a shortstem 1, carrying a finger-button 1 which is grasped for turning theball, as desired, between the two plates J J. It will be understood thatthe frictional contact between the cupped upper ends of these plates andthe ball is made great enough to sustain the weight of the lamp in anyposition in which it may be placed. This construction also gives auniversal movement to the lamp within the control of the rider.

In the construction shown by Fig. 9 I have represented avertically-adjustable screwpost K, located within a spiral spring K,rigidly conndcted at its lower end with a hub K fastened to the centerof the upper member K of a clip, the lower member of which is not shown.Vith this construction 1 cmploy a coupling-ring L, such as shown in Fig.9, the said ring having a coupling-head L preferably corresponding tothe couplinghead but having a circular recess Z to receive the head ofthe screw K in place of a transverse horizontal groove 0 to receive thedraw-bar D.

It will be apparent that the modifications shown by Figs. 8 and 9 alsoform a virtually universal joint for the movement of the lamp.

It is apparent that in carrying out my invention still other devices maybe resorted to for mounting the lamp. I would therefore have itunderstood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction hereinshown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes andalterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an electric-lamp holder for bicycles, the combination with areflector adapted to receive an incandescent electric lamp, and providedwith afoot; of a clip adapted to be applied to a bicycle, ahorizontally-arranged coupling-ring adapted to receive the said footwhich is removably connected with it, and constructed with an offset-ting coupling member forming a center upon which the ring is revoluble in ahorizontal plane; and means for connecting the coupling'ring through itssaid coupling member to the clip, substantially as described.

2. In an electric-lamp holder for bicycles, the combination with areflector adapted to receive an incandescent electric lamp, and having afoot; of a horizontally-arranged coupling-ring adapted to receive thesaid foot which is removably connected with it, and furnished with anoffsetting coupling-head, a clip adapted to be applied to a bicycle, andmeans, including a spring, for connecting the said ring and clip throughthe medium of the said offsetting coupling-head which forms a center forthe ring to revolve upon against the friction developed by the tensionof the spring, substantially as described.

3. In an. electric-lamp holder for bicycles, the combination with areflector adapted to receive an incandescent electric lamp, and providedwith a foot; of a horizontally-arranged coupling-ring into which thesaid foot is inserted and secured, and which is provided with acoupling-head offsetting from its edge in the plane of the ring, a clipadapted to be connected with a bicycle, and provided with a post, to theend of which the said head is applied, a spring combined with the saidpost and coaeting with the said head for maintaining it in engagementwith the post upon which it may be turned against the tension of thespring, substantially as described.

4:. In. an electric-lamp holder for bicycles, the combination with areflector adapted to receive an. incandescent electric lamp and IIOprovided with a foot, of a coupling-ring with which the said foot isconnected and which is provided with an offsetting coupling-head, a clipprovided with a hollow post or tube, a rotatable spring located withinthe post of the clip, a cross-bar connected with the upper end of thespring and adapted to engage with the upper face of the said head whichis constructed with a groove to receive the bar,

IO with a slot to receive the upper end of the spring, and with adepending boss to enter the upper end of the tube, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscrib- 15 ing witnesses.

EDWARD DAYTON ROCKWELL. Witnesses:

LOUIS L. BEACH, ARTHUR G. BEACH.

